The president of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union says they want to be partners in any plans to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale which will impact the lobster fishery.
Carl Allen says measures such as large closures of fishing zones in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and not being able to fish in shallow waters have been thrust upon fishermen with no consultation whatsoever.
“I think that you’re going to find that the data from this summer is going to prove us right to say that North Atlantic Right Whales do not venture into water less than 120 feet especially less than 60 feet in the Gulf of St. Lawrence,” he says.
A proposal to open up the lobster season in September for fishermen affected by the current closures has been discussed but Allen adds there are conservation concerns during that time and it will be up to fishermen to decide.
